'Simply' hiding ends!

[CindyK]

I am having trouble just starting the center of a doily for some reason. I have hidden thread ends before by sewing into caps, and by also using the magic thread trick. I'm trying to make the center of a doily that consists of 6 simple rings. I start the first ring with a looper, tat 4 more rings, and start the last ring with a looper. When I'm done, I cross the two thread ends and pull ends through the loopers. When I cut the thread ends, the center seems to come loose. I thought I was putting opposite thread ends into opposite rings. For heaven's sake, I've made about 4 centers this morning, and they all come apart. What am I doing wrong here?

One more thought - if you start a center motif with 6 rings, do you assume and join the last ring to the base of the first ring when the pattern doesn't specifically say to do this? Maybe that's part of my problem.

[Artylady]

Sorry I can't help you (although an end did come loose on a doily I made and I used a tiny dab of PVA to seal it - shhhhhhhhh don't tell). I'm intrigued by what you note as "magic thread trick" - can you please explain this process.
Liz
www.artylady.blogspot.com

[Susan B T]

If the rings are closed and tied with a square knot. "right over left and left over right makes the know tight" If you feed the ends back under the DS and it is not tied off it can undo the DS.

You can also go the the second round using a split ring or chain... depending on the pattern.

Hope this is some assistance.

[Susan B T]

Here are several links for hiding ends.....

It is at the beginning you can tat over the tail. And at the end use the magic thread trick...... Right you say....:fear:

This is one site for magic thread..... I know Debbie and love her technique.

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2...1/drakemt.html

this is one way of sewing the ends back it...... Lily makes it easy.....

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/morales/lilyend.html

http://www.frontiernet.net/~TammyRodgers/lilys_way.html

Gale's site has more on the MTT... go to her site for tips and go down to Magic thread... a different wording may help

http://www.tatsall.ca/tips.htm

Found Sharon's video on MTT

http://www.gagechek.com/slb/demo/demo5.html

One way of adding a new thread. Bina gives great instrusctions.

http://www.paradisetreasures.com/addnewthread.html

Debbie's way of adding a new thread.

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2.../drakeadd.html

Here is a great Narrative and pics by Georgia....

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes/ends.html

Did not mean to leave anyone out... but there are other sites out there is simular info/..... these came to mind quickest.

[Sandra]

I put some info on my blog on MY version on Magic Thread Trick - make sure you make a good knot of the threads before you run them through the MTT

[CindyK]

Thanks so much! From Susan's list of links, the very last one may show what I need to do at #5. It looks like maybe I should be putting both loopers in the first ring since I'm starting and ending with rings? It's driving me crazy as I can do the tatting part - it's the joining beginning to end and then hiding the ends that is torturing me!

Sandra - I love the floss threader method - what a great idea!

I ended up sewing the ends in on the first round, and now I've finished the 2nd round and am having the same issue joining the end to the beginning. There must be some little thing I am just not seeing.

Thanks again - I will be studying all the links!

[Sandra]

Plan your tatting for finishing. Put your prep for MTT in the first ring and in your last bit of tatting (be it ring or chain). Once you get used to this, it will make things go SO much better, I promise!

[PattyD]

I have to rely on other methods Sandra, because so often I am making it up as I go along! For me, sewing under the caps is my most used technique.

[CindyK]

I tried the MTT by putting loopers in the first and last rings. When I finished, I crossed the threads (shoe-lace tie?) and pulled them with the loopers into the rings. Once I cut the threads, the rings came apart from eachother. I am not sure if I am supposed to make a knot to hold it together? Or, see #5 in this link: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes/ends.html

Maybe I am not connecting the first and last rings correctly by putting two loopers in the first ring? Seems so incredibly dumb that I can't see this!

[BlueDode]

CinkyK:

I'm guessing a bit here: I think I've done this when hiding ends before.

Instead of just crossing the "tails", KNOT them first: another member (I'll see if I can find who, and which thread) said she used "surgical" knots (I use square knots), and I think her idea is a good one; right over left (ends switch hands, with wrap between them), right over left AGAIN (ends switch back hands, with a "granny knot" between them), then left over right (the last two form a square knot). NOW hide the ends.

It is possible to pull the core/shuttle thread back into itself when hiding ends which undoes the tatting.

Not sure this is what is happening for you: think about it and see if this applies or not. Good luck on working through this one.

"Surgeon's knots" are described by PattyD in her reply to cougarrakira's post titled "Total Newbie Help? Please?" under the "How do I..." form.